by Margaret Mair

Created on: February 01, 2009   Last Updated: February 28, 2009

America is a country of mountains and plains, swampland and deserts, farming and industry, small towns and great cities, historic sites and modern bustle, crossed by a network of highways and byways waiting to be explored. The traveler can choose a theme, follow a historic highway, or simply wander. Tracing the older, slower roads reveals the diversity of America's landscapes and the richness of its history and culture.

To the west Highway 89 travels north and south between Flagstaff, Arizona and the Canadian border. Along it are national parks and monuments, historic sites and museums, bare deserts and red rock canyons and snow-capped mountains, Yellowstone Park and the Grand Canyon.

Highway 101, the Pacific Coast Highway, travels between East Los Angeles and Olympia, Washington. It winds along the coast past world class beaches, over beautiful bridges and through giant redwoods and northern rain forests, linking coastal communities and large west coast cities.

On the east coast, US Highway 1 offers glimpses of almost every aspect of American life. It travels through and by coastal towns and cities, including Boston, New York and Washington DC. It passes through historic districts and state parks and over historic bridges, across islands, through swampland, plantations, woods and hills, all the way from Maine to the Florida Keys.

Route 20 lies between Boston and Newport, Oregon. It travels through the Berkshire Hills, follows rivers and lakes, passes by the Fort Hill Cemetery and the spectacular lava flows of the Craters of the Moon National Monument, through Yellowstone National Park and across the continental divide via the Targhee Pass through smaller historic towns and big cities like Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland and Chicago.

The remains of Route 66 pass through the the rolling forested hills of the Ozarks, across prairie lands, the Mojave Desert and the Continental Divide, wending its way between Chicago and Santa Monica, California. It passes by the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest, through historic Springfield, close to the Meteor Crater and the cliff dwellings of the Memorial Canyon National Monument, giving glimpses into America's history.

Dream, learn, plan and prepare. Deciding where to go, what route and what vehicle to use, making sure everything is ready - these are all part of every road trip. Then preparing the vehicle: checking the condition of the tires, having the oil changed, the fluids checked and the whole car inspected for potential problems. Making sure you have a spare tire and tire-changing tools and jumper cables and know how to use them. Maybe renting a car from a larger company like Hertz , Avis, Dollar, Alamo or Thrifty, with a wider range of vehicles, options and discounts. Looking for unlimited mileage if you plan to travel far.

Use good maps and guides. Travel with extra food, water and a good first aid kit. Have rain jackets, warm blankets, warm clothing and boots, an ice scraper, a shove if the weather may be rainy, cold or snowy. Travel with a cellphone and chargers, in case you need to call for help. Join a group like the American Automobile Association or the smaller Allstate Motor Club for access to roadside assistance, trip planning services and a variety of discounts. There is a AAA network of approved repair facilities across the nation if you need repairs done.

Travel slowly and enjoy new places and new faces. Look for accommodation to fit your budget and your preferences. Bed and breakfast inns offer unique accommodations, there are camp grounds for RVs or tents and a range of hotels and motels to suit all tastes. Sleep well and enjoy the trip.

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